Deputy Labour leader says that the Government should not be encouraging
couples to stay married through the tax system when "they themselves
are divorced"

It is hypocritical for Ministers to encourage people to remain in “nuclear families” because many of them are divorced, Harriet Harman has said.

The deputy Labour leader said that ministers should not use tax policy to “send a signal about the importance of people staying in a nuclear family as there are many ministers have experienced family breakdowns of their own.

David Cameron has personally backed the £1,000 tax break which is expected to affect 4 million couples when it is brought in in April next year. Labour have since said they would scrap it if they were elected.

Announcing the measure last year Mr Cameron said: ““I believe in marriage. Alongside the birth of my children, my wedding was the happiest day of my life. Since then, Samantha and I have been a team.”

On a webchat on Mumsnet Miss Harman was asked why she wants the “dissolution of the nuclear family”. She said while she did not oppose the “nuclear” set up families come in “all shapes and sizes”.

She wrote: “I don’t. But families come in all shapes and sizes and all are important. And some families start as “nuclear” and then end up in divorce so we should support all families – especially with children.

“Government shouldn’t have a policy to try and make people get into or stay in nuclear families. Their “Married Man’s Tax Allowance” won’t cut the divorce rate or mend any marriage which is breaking. I don’t agree with government using tax policy to “send a signal” about the importance of people staying in a nuclear family.

“Especially when there are many ministers who are themselves divorced.”

Priti Patel, a treasury minister, said: "It's the same old nasty Labour party. They can't criticise the policy so they resort to ad hominem attacks. We're proud of the action we've taken to support hardworking families."

Henry Smith, the Conservative MP said: “There is nothing wrong with the Government sending out a message that children in particular are better off in a close family environment.

“That is not necessarily the path that everyone choses or the lifestyle that turned out of everyone but that’s not to say that’s it’s right that the Government shouldn’t support marriage through the tax system.

“People’s circumstances are what they are for a variety of reasons through personal choice and circumstance and I don’t think that is relevant to Government policy to encourage family and marriage in a small way.”